CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN
We give CyberGhost and ExpressVPN the same GPA: 2.4 out of 4.0. CyberGhost grades higher on value for money. ExpressVPN grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
CyberGhost
VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans
ExpressVPN
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
How we grade them
| 2.4GPACyberGhostFair | 2.4GPAExpressVPNFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BThe long plan bills $56.94 for the first 26 months, so two years cost about $2.37 a month, inside the cheaper quarter of VPNs but above the $2 an A needs. It then renews at $56.94 a year, still below the middle. The monthly plan is $12.99. | COver two years Basic costs $174.80: $74.85 for the first 15 months, then $99.95 for the next year. That's about $7.30 a month, between the middle and the dearer end of VPN prices. Advanced renews at $119.95 and Express Pro at $199.95. |
| Free plan and trial | DA 24-hour trial on a computer with no card, or 3 days on Android and 7 on iPhone with a payment method. Short either way, and the money-back guarantee doesn't count. | DOnly a 3-day free trial, and only when you subscribe in the iPhone or Android app. The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers and isn't a trial. |
| Features | B9,600+ servers in over 100 countries, OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2, a kill switch, split tunneling, ad and malware blocking, and ID Guard on the long plan. It covers the whole job, though 7 devices at once is fewer than some rivals allow. | BLightway with post-quantum protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, servers in 113 countries, ad and threat blocking, an email alias relay, and from Advanced a password manager and ID theft cover. It covers the whole job. |
| Ease of use | C4.23 from about 39,600 App Store ratings, below the 4.3 a crowd that size needs for a B and lower than most VPNs here. | B4.68 from about 420,000 App Store ratings, a whisker under the 4.7 an A needs. Pick a location and connect. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, TVs and browser extensions. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions, with apps for routers and TVs too. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | a cheap two years on seven devices | a VPN with apps for routers and TVs too |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. How we grade
Price against what you get
CyberGhost starts at $4.74 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. ExpressVPN starts at $8.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
ExpressVPN scores higher, and starts $3.59 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other VPNs on the chart, 3 score higher than CyberGhost for less, and 1 scores higher than ExpressVPN for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
At a glance
| CyberGhost | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94 | $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85 |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 24-hour desktop trial with no card; 3 days on Android and 7 days on iOS with a payment method | 3-day free trial when you subscribe in the iOS or Android app |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | CyberGhost S.R.L. | ExpressVPN |
| Price read from | cyberghostvpn.com | expressvpn.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
CyberGhost
- Trying a VPN on a computer for a day without entering a card
- Households with up to seven devices
- Buyers who want the longest money-back window on a long plan
ExpressVPN
- People who want a VPN with apps for routers and TVs as well as computers
- Buyers who want a password manager and ID monitoring on one bill
- Small teams of five or more, through ExpressVPN for Teams
Worth knowing
CyberGhost
- The $2.19 a month covers only the first 26 months of the long plan; it then renews at $56.94 every year.
- Seven devices at once on every plan; covering more needs a router setup.
- The monthly plan gets a 14-day money-back guarantee instead of 45 days, and mobile trials need a payment method.
- Prices for the dedicated IP and Windows Security Suite add-ons are not shown on the plans page.
ExpressVPN
- The advertised $4.99 a month covers only the first 15 months of Basic; it then renews yearly at $99.95, or $119.95 and $199.95 on the higher tiers.
- The US pricing page offers only 12-month plans, and devices are capped at 10, 12 or 14 depending on the tier.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee is for first-time customers; App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded at Apple's or Google's discretion.
- ExpressVPN for Teams has a minimum of five licenses.
Key features
CyberGhost
- Server network
- More than 9,600 servers in over 100 countries on 10-Gbps networks, with unlimited bandwidth.
- Seven devices
- Every plan allows 7 VPN connections at the same time; a router setup can cover devices without their own app.
- Content Blocker
- Blocks DNS requests to domains known for ads, trackers and malware.
- Protocols, kill switch and split tunneling
- Switch between OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2, with an automatic kill switch and split tunneling.
- ID Guard and Privacy Guard
- Included at no extra cost with multi-year plans; every plan also gets email leak monitoring.
- Add-ons
- A dedicated IP and the CyberGhost Security Suite for Windows can be added at checkout for 1 month, 6 months or 2 years.
ExpressVPN
- Lightway protocol
- ExpressVPN's own VPN protocol, with post-quantum protection, plus an internet kill switch and split tunneling in the apps.
- Servers in 113 countries
- Every plan reaches the same network of servers in 113 countries, with speeds of up to 40Gbps quoted on the pricing page.
- Ad and threat blocking
- Basic blocks ads, malicious sites and adult sites; Advanced and Express Pro also block trackers.
- ExpressMailGuard
- A private email relay that hides your address behind aliases. The monthly relay allowance and number of aliases and custom domains grow with the plan.
- ExpressKeys and Identity Defender
- From Advanced, a password manager with a 2FA authenticator, plus ID alerts, automated data removal and up to $3 million ($5 million on Pro) of identity theft insurance.
- Dedicated IP
- A fixed IP address of your own: included with Express Pro and an add-on for Basic and Advanced.
Plans
CyberGhost
1 Month$12.99
per month
Renews at $12.99 a month. Covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee rather than 45 days.
6 Months$41.94
every 6 months
$6.99 a month, renewing at the same $41.94 every 6 months. 45-day money-back guarantee.
2 Years + 2 Months$56.94
per year at renewal, after a first term of 26 months
The first 26 months cost $56.94 ($2.19 a month, sold as 83% off), then it renews at $56.94 every year. Includes ID Guard and Privacy Guard.
ExpressVPN
Basic, 12 months$99.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
10 devices and blocking of ads, malicious and adult sites. The first 15 months cost $74.85 ($4.99 a month), shown against $224.85.
Advanced, 12 months$119.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
12 devices, tracker blocking, ExpressKeys and Identity Defender. The first 15 months cost $89.85 ($5.99 a month).
Express Pro, 12 months$199.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
14 devices, a dedicated IP and ExpressAI, with more ID alerts and insurance. The first 15 months cost $134.85 ($8.99 a month).
Ways to pay less
CyberGhost
- Other savings
2 years plus 2 months for $56.94
The long plan bills $56.94 for the first 26 months ($2.19 a month), sold as an 83% Halloween deal with a countdown but no date, then renews at $56.94 a year.
ExpressVPN
- Other savings
First 15 months of a 12-month plan from $74.85
A 12-month plan comes with 3 extra months for a first payment of $74.85 (Basic), $89.85 (Advanced) or $134.85 (Express Pro), then renews yearly at the full price.
